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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Super Bowl Props: Do Your Homework

Oddsmakers have had plenty of time to carefully scrutinize the last game of the football season, therefore the side and total are likely to be good numbers. You rarely see much line movement on super Bowls. However, proposition bets offer bettors an excellent opportunity to find good bets and soft numbers. But you cant do guesswork, you have to do some homework.

Lets go through a prop and do some research on it. For instance, theres a line offered on the Steelers/Seahawks super Bowl this weekend that reads: What half will the most points be scored in? The second half opened +110. Is this a good number? Just thinking about what might happen, it seems to reason that both coaches, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher, are primarily ball control gurus. They look to establish their running games and control the clock. Perhaps the first half will be more conservative, with the second half more wide-open as the trailing team looks to catch up. But lets not stop there. Is there anything in recent history to support this?

Last season, the Patriots and Eagles were tied 7-7 at the half, then there were 31 points scored in the second half. As we reasoned above, the Patriots jumped ahead 24-14 forcing the Eagles to pass more in the fourth quarter to get back in the game. Chalk one up for the second half having more scoring.

Two years ago, the Patriots and Panthers scored 24 first half points. Then they tallied 35 in the second half. Actually, there was no scoring in the third quarter and then the teams erupted for 35 points in the wildest fourth quarter in super Bowl memory.

Three years ago, the Buccaneers led the Raiders 20-3 at the half. Thats 23 point. The Bucs went on to win 48-21, so there were 46 second half points! Four years ago, the Patriots led the Rams 14-3 at the half, then the teams combined for 20 second half points.

Before that, the Ravens were up 10-0 on the giants at the half, then the teams combined for 31 second half points. Before that, the Rams led 9-0 at the half over Tennessee. The teams combined for 30 second half points.

Before that, denver led atlanta 17-6 at the half, a combined 23 points. like the Patriots/Panthers super Bowl, there was no scoring in the third quarter, and then the teams erupted for 30 fourth quarter points! If youre keeping score, thats 7-0 the last seven years where there has been more scoring in the second half than the first half.

In the Broncos/Packers super Bowl before that, the teams combined for 31 first half points, then 24 second half points. So we have to go back to 1998 to find the last time the first half won that wager. This doesnt guarantee that there will be more second half scoring this sunday, of course, but my point is to show you what handicappers do when assessing whether a prop bet is worth a wager or not. There are dozens of interesting prop bets to examine this sunday. So get out there and find ones you think may be worth wagering on. But dont stop there: Do your homework to support your findings!

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Secrets that Golf Ball Manufacturers Don't Want You to Know

You have probably seen and heard advertisements from several different manufacturers claiming that their ball is the best. Hey, they can't all be the best...or can they? Since there are rules that limit a ball's initial velocity, it stands to reason that all the major golf ball makers are already pushing those limits. If they wanted to, they could probably make a ball that goes much further, but it would be illegal. Some pros are under contract to play the ball brand of their various sponsors, but they probably would do just as well playing a different brand, so it is not likely that these balls can be all that different.

That means if the average golfer wants more distance, any of the major brands will be OK. Some balls claim to have "high spin". Sounds cool, but if that is true, you can expect to increase your slice or hook, which negates the value of being able to stop the ball on the green more easily. Trying to spin the ball on "public" greens may be futile, because those greens are usually not as soft as the greens on plush private courses, so the extra spin might not be of any benefit to the average golfer anyway. If you really really like spin, use a ball with a cut or scrape on it (just kidding). If you like more distance, line up the seam of the ball vertically along the target line (not kidding, this supposedly also promotes a better roll for putting).

Some people claim they can feel a difference in the "softness" of the ball when they hit it. Don't be fooled by this. Any ball will feel softer if you hit it on the sweet spot of the club, and the same ball will feel hard if you fail to strike the ball on the sweet spot. Some people say they can tell by the sound; gimme a break, does it go "doink" or "squish"? If you think any of these balls are soft, allow me to bounce one of them off your head, and then you can tell me how soft it feels. They used to say hard swingers were supposed to use harder higher compression balls, yet the lower compression Lady Precept has changed this way of thinking, and now all the major brands are making balls with specs similar to the Lady Precept.

So the bottom line is this: Unless you are a low handicap golfer, it probably makes little difference which ball is better for you. The marketing hype is just playing on your mind. For the average golfer, brand guchi-fufu will probably get no better scores than brand A or B or X. However, the mind is a very powerful thing, so if you feel more confident by playing an expensive ball, then go for it, a positive attitude will probably help you.

So without further ado, here is my "meticulous scientific" and most fiscally responsible method of choosing a golf ball. Use whatever the ball retriever can dredge up from the nearest ponds, and put the money saved to better use, like maybe for some extra beers at the 19th hole, or better yet, use it for some of the golf swing improvement DVDs mentioned in our web site!

Need help with your golf or just want to make guaranteed improvements? Visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golfing tips and advice, or maybe treat yourself or the golfer in your life to a golf gift to improve your stance, swing and grip like the Body Golf Powersteps DVD.

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Sirius Satellite Radio Offers Some Serious Options For The Ever Expanding Satellite Radio Industry

As the satellite radio craze continues to grow, more and more services are coming on board. Many of these offer a selection of listening options thats expansive enough to put FM and AM stations combined to shame. One such service is Sirius satellite radio.

Sirius satellite radio offers a lot of the same things that other satellite providers do, but it has a few twists. Lets go over the basics about satellite radio and then mention those twists.

First off, Sirius satellite radio, like other similar services, is offered on a subscription basis. This means those who want to be able to tune into the channels must pay to do so. Those who have can choose to receive the signals in their automobiles, offices, homes or even online. There are a variety of options on this front, making sure those who want to can listen to Sirius satellite radio just about anywhere.

The reason subscription services like Sirius satellite radio are so popular is the fact they can offer a variety both censored and not of everything from childrens music and pop to classics, comedy, news, weather, traffic and more. Theres no shortage of stations on services such as this.

Developing in a similar fashion to cable television, satellite radio providers like Sirius satellite radio have been able to cater to niche markets, as well. Since they have so many station possibilities open, they can include a variety of narrowly focused channels that FM and AM just cant support. These options include such things as folk music, specialized talk radio and more. There are even stations dedicated to nothing but childrens music, pop, Top 40 and beyond.

now, for those Sirius satellite radio twists mentioned earlier. This particular satellite radio provider is known for not only its music selection, but also its talk show hosts. With a reach that spans from Martha Stewart to Howard Stern, its little wonder these types of services are drawing niche crowds.

Another draw for providers such as Sirius satellite radio is the fact many of them give their customers automatic Internet access to all the programming. This means listeners can buy receivers and subscriptions for their cars and still listen at home or the office via computer speakers. This is a nice perk that many enjoy taking advantage of.

Sirius satellite radio is known for its expansive variety and the number of options subscribers have for actually tuning in. The service is considered one of the best when it comes to variety.

For more information on Sirius satellite radio try visiting http://www.thesatelliteradiosite.com, a website that specializes in providing advice, tips and resources on the ever expanding technology offered by satellite radio that you can switch on to enjoy crystal clear, digital reception.

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Yoga for Beginners, A Good Place to Start!

If you've been dealing with some health challenges, or have not been exercising or stretching much recently, you can still begin your yoga practice in an easy, enjoyable way!

yoga does not have to be difficult for it to effectively manage and relieve pain! Find out why today is a good day to start your yoga practice!

The easier "schools" of yoga include: Kripalu yoga, hatha yoga, Gentle yoga, Sivananda yoga, Integral yoga and Iyengar yoga. Please note that Iyengar yoga can be gentle or rigorous depending on your teacher!

Here is a brief list of Yoga Classes to avoid if you're seeking a gentle way to learn Yoga. The classes that are physically rigorous, and thus not ideal for beginners (unless you're a real athlete already) are:
power Yoga, ashtanga Yoga, Yoga with weights, and Bikram Yoga aka hot Yoga.

The good news is that you can reap the benefits of yoga, whether you take a gentle class or a rigorous class. These benefits include: stretching and strengthening both body & mind, finding your balance in more ways than one, and taking time to breathe deeply, relax, and enjoy life in the present moment.

So, how can you start your yoga practice? Simply call the yoga Centers and Health Clubs nearest your home and ask them about the kinds of yoga classes they offer. Ask them if they offer a yoga Class for beginners. Most Yoga Centers make a point of doing this!

Then you can follow-up by trying different Yoga teachers and Yoga Classes in your neighborhood and finding at least 2 per week that fit your schedule.

Finally, you can purchase a yoga dvd, either online or at your local health food store. Please be sure that it includes gentle, easy poses that are good for beginners! This can help you jump start your daily practice at home.

For more information about upcoming easy Yoga DVDs, you are welcome to contact hannahyoga@yahoo.com so that you can be informed when the new DVDs are ready!

Now, just a bit of "Yoga Lingo" for you as you start your own personal yoga Journey: the word "Namaste!" is often said at the beginning and end of yoga classes. It means, "I salute the light within you!"

May you be peaceful and well! Namaste!

Hannah Caratti provides tools, instruction, and information about methods of relieving pain and stress through techniques related to the ancient science of yoga.

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